It used to be, you’d have to wait forever for a movie to come out on DVD ... or video ... or Beta.

Now, though, Disney is going to release “Alice in Wonderland” on DVD just three months after its theatrical release, as opposed to the usual four months.

That has sent some cinema owners into a tizzy. They feel the quick turnaround time will encourage viewers to forgo the multiplex experience and merely wait a few months to watch “Alice” on DVD at home.

Movie studios, on the other hand, think the less time between theater and DVD release dates, the better. For them, it means more money quickly, of course. But they believe, too, that people will be more apt to rent or buy a DVD if the title is still new and fresh in their memory.

It’ll be interesting to see how it shakes out. I realize that watching at home, especially with the advent of better and better TVs, has become an increasingly popular way to see films.

But not for me. I love watching movies in a theater — the looming screen, the dark theater, and the surrounding sound all make it feel as though you’re in the story. It’s enveloping.

Watching a DVD at home is ... not enveloping. There are too many distractions, and it’s hard to get lost in a movie when you can’t shut out the real world. It’s better than not seeing a movie at all, but the experience simply doesn’t compare. Which is why I try my best to see movies in the theater.

Do you prefer watching movies in the theater or at home on DVD? Would you be less apt to see a movie in the theater if you knew it was coming out soon on DVD?